'Optical illusion' cycle lane to get overnight fix

The cycle path in Keynsham will be getting fixed overnight on Thursday

Roadworks to break the “optical illusion”, which causes people to trip on Keynsham High Street, is about to begin.

Around three people trip and hurt themselves every month on the cycle lane, which was installed in 2022.

Even after the cycle lane was painted red, the kerbs and painted lines on the street have continued to create an “optical illusion” which causes people to trip.

But overnight on 11 April, Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) will be repainting the solid white line as a broken line, in the hopes this will stop the confusion and the injuries.

Residents have been waiting a month and a half for the repairs

Double yellow lines will also be painted on the street.

Locals have been waiting more than a month and a half for the work to happen after BANES said in February it would happen “at the earliest opportunity,” weather and contactor availability allowing

Now it has said the street will be closed from 19.00 BST on Thursday while the work takes place.

It is being carried out overnight to avoid disruption to businesses and traffic during the day.

Paul Roper, the council’s cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, said: “This mitigation should make the change in levels clearer to pedestrians and prevent further trips and falls.

“We are grateful for people’s patience while the audit was undertaken and the road safety report compiled, which we are acting on.”

But local councillor, and the council’s member advocate for road safety, Alan Hale warned in February the changes planned by the council are not those which auditors recommended.

They had suggested putting tactile paving along the kerb but the scheme’s designers said this could cause more confusion.

Mr Hale said: “It seems to me that the council administration have spent good money on an audit but, having received the results, they together with the officers and the design team have decided to dismiss what they have been told.”

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